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Greiner, G. ; Schwettmann, L. ; Goebel, J.* ; Maier, W.

Primary care in Germany: Access and utilisation - a cross-sectional study with data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).

BMJ Open 8:e021036 (2018)
Verlagsversion DOI PMC
Open Access Gold
Creative Commons Lizenzvertrag
Objectives (1) To describe the accessibility of general practitioners (GPs) by the German population; (2) to determine factors on individual and area level, such as settlement structure and area deprivation, which are associated with the walking distance to a GP; and (3) to identify factors that may cause differences in the utilisation of any doctors.Design Cross-sectional study using individual survey data from the representative German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) linked with area deprivation data from the German Index of Multiple Deprivation for 2010 (GIMD 2010) and official data for settlement structure (urban/rural areas) at district level. Logistic regression models were estimated to determine the relationship of individual and area factors with the distance to a GP. Negative binomial regressions were used to analyse the association with utilisation.Setting Germany.Population n=20 601 respondents from the SOEP survey data 2009.Primary outcome measure Walking distance to a GP.Secondary outcome measure Doctor visits.Results Nearly 70% of the sample lives within a 20 min walk to a GP. People living in the most deprived areas have a 1.4-fold (95% CI 1.3 to 1.6) increased probability of a greater walking distance compared with the least deprived quintile, even after controlling for settlement structure and individual factors. In rural districts, people have a 3.1-fold (95% CI 2.8 to 3.4) higher probability of a greater walking distance compared with those in cities. Both area deprivation and rurality have a negative relationship with the utilisation of physicians, whereas the distance to a GP is not associated with the utilisation of physicians.Conclusion Walking distance to a GP depends on individual and area factors. In Germany, area deprivation is negatively correlated with the accessibility of GPs while controlling for settlement structure and individual factors. Both area factors are negatively associated with the utilisation of doctors. This knowledge could be used for future GP requirement plans.
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Publikationstyp Artikel: Journalartikel
Dokumenttyp Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Korrespondenzautor
Schlagwörter Accessibility ; Area Deprivation ; Distance To Doctor ; General Practitioner ; Settlement Structure; Spatial Accessibility; Regional Deprivation; Physicians; Health; Recruitment; Retention; England
ISSN (print) / ISBN 2044-6055
e-ISSN 2044-6055
Zeitschrift BMJ Open
Quellenangaben Band: 8, Heft: 10, Seiten: , Artikelnummer: e021036 Supplement: ,
Verlag BMJ Publishing Group
Verlagsort British Med Assoc House, Tavistock Square, London Wc1h 9jr, England
Nichtpatentliteratur Publikationen
Begutachtungsstatus Peer reviewed
Institut(e) Abteilung Biophysikalische Strahlenforschung